Integrative Resources

Blogs & Articles
Human: Healing from the Inner Critic
Ashra Sherwood
Human: Healing from the Inner Critic
Ashra Sherwood

If I were to identify only one thing to focus on in therapy with clients, it would be the Inner Critic. This toxic part of the psyche can truly wreak havoc, maintaining depression, anxiety, trauma, and poor self-concept. In contrast, the journey of healing, treating, or re-integrating the Inner Critic can bring enormous positive change. But this can be a long and complex journey. If it were as simple as ‘just be nicer to yourself’, clients would have done this long ago!

In my work, I see the journey of healing from the Critic involves ‘phases’. These are not separate steps necessarily, and these phases can overlap through the course of therapy many times. But they are a way to view the different therapeutic elements that we use.

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Ashra Sherwood
Nurture: Powerful Beauty
Ashra Sherwood
Nurture: Powerful Beauty
Ashra Sherwood

Not many people have heard of neuroaesthetics. Pioneered by Semir Zeki (University College of London) in the 1990s, neuroaesthetics began as the scientific exploration of the human brain’s perception of beauty. More recently, the field is cross disciplinary and translational and, while it is still considered frontier (read: controversial) science, we are beginning to understand the potential benefits of beauty apprehension for human wellbeing.

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Ashra Sherwood
Human: Schema Therapy
Ashra Sherwood
Human: Schema Therapy
Ashra Sherwood

Schema Therapy (Jeffrey Young, 1990) is an evidence-based approach to healing from past traumas, dismantling unhealthy and conditioned patterns of thinking, feeling, and coping, and creating a more compassionate and meaningful relationship to self and life. It combines elements of cognitive-behaviour therapy (CBT), attachment theory, psychoanalytic/psychodynamic therapy, and gestalt therapy.

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Ashra Sherwood
Wellbeing: Mindful Thriving
Ashra Sherwood
Wellbeing: Mindful Thriving
Ashra Sherwood

Consider for a moment – if health, happiness, and wellbeing are more than just the absence of disease and distress, what does it mean to thrive in life? What does it mean to you?

I believe there are two main ways that mindfulness can help us to, not just survive and ‘get through’ life, but thrive. The first relates to struggle. There are so many things we struggle with. We fight, resist, suppress, or avoid situations, people, interactions, and perhaps most especially, we struggle with ourselves. Our thoughts, emotions, body sensations, impulses, actions, choices, even who we are or who we’d like to be, what we want or don’t want, all of these things are fertile ground for struggle.

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Ashra Sherwood

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FAQ

  • It’s common to feel uncertain before beginning therapy. The first session is a conversation about what has been happening for you and what feels important to understand or explore. We may discuss your background, current concerns and psychological symptoms and what you hope to gain from therapy. This also offers an opportunity for you to get a sense of the therapeutic process and whether this approach feels like a good fit for you.

  • A session (46 to 60 minutes; sessions are usually 50 minutes) costs $255.25 (the APS recommended fee schedule is currently set at $311). If you have a referral from your GP under the Medicare Better Access Scheme (also known as a Mental Health Care Plan), then you will receive a rebate of $145.25. This means there is an out-of-pocket gap of $110 per session. You can access up to 10 Medicare Better Access sessions per calendar year.

  • Yes. If you have a current Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP, Medicare rebates are available for sessions with a Clinical Psychologist. You are also welcome to attend privately without a referral, if you prefer.

    Rebate and fee information will be outlined clearly prior to your first appointment.

  • No, you can see me privately if you prefer. This means, however, that you will not receive a rebate for your session and will need to pay the full fee yourself. If you do wish to attend therapy under a Mental Health Care Plan, it is a relatively simple process – phone and make a longer (double) session with your GP – you can let the medical practice reception know you are seeking a psychology referral. The GP will ask you some questions about how you are feeling, and you can request that your referral be directed to a particular psychologist.

  • The length of therapy varies. It depends on what you would like to work through, your goals, and the pace that feels right for you. Some individuals prefer shorter-term support, while others choose longer-term work to explore more complex or longstanding patterns. This is something that we will discuss together early in the therapy process. As a Schema Therapist, I often support clients over a longer period of time.

  • Yes. While many people find in-person sessions helpful—especially at the beginning—telehealth is also available if this is more suitable for your circumstances. If we are considering telehealth as the primary way of working together, we will discuss this collaboratively to ensure it aligns with your needs. All telehealth sessions are held through a secure, private online platform.

  • Sometimes, ‘life happens’, and you are very welcome to cancel or reschedule your appointment. However, you do need to provide at least 24 business hours’ notice. If you cancel or reschedule your appointment within this time – regardless of the reason – then you will be charged a $110 cancellation fee, which you will need to pay yourself (i.e., there is no rebate on cancellation fees).